Helen O'Connell joined the Jimmy Dorsey band in 1939 and achieved her best selling records in the early forties with "Green Eyes", "Amapola", and "Tangerine". In each of these Latin-influenced numbers, Bob Eberly crooned the song which Helen then reprised in an up-tempo arrangement. Helen won the 1940 Metronome magazine poll for best female vocalist. She was one of the first "girls" on NBC's The Today Show, and at one point had her own television show.
Helen retired from show business upon her first marriage in 1943. Helen had four daughters and eight grandchildren. When the first marriage failed, she embarked on a solo career in 1951, achieving some chart success and becoming a regular television performer. Helen has married a total of four times.
She co-hosted the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants with Bob Barker from 1972 to 1980.
In her last marriage, she was married to arranger/conductor/composer Frank De Vol when she died in San Diego, California from a battle with hepatitis C resulting in primary liver cancer (hepatoma).
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Helen O'connell Lyrics
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DEAN: I like mine with a kiss
HELEN: Boiled or fried
DEAN: I'm satisfied, as long as I get my kiss
HELEN: How d'ya like your toast in the morning
DEAN: I like mine with a hug
HELEN: Dark or light
DEAN: I've got to have my love in the morning
HELEN: Or the rest of my day is positively mayhem
DEAN: I'm a regular monster
HELEN: How d'ya like your eggs in the morning
DEAN: I like mine with a kiss
HELEN: Up or down
DEAN I'll never frown, eggs can be almost bliss
BOTH: Just as long as I get my kiss
DEAN: How d'ya like your eggs in the morning
HELEN: How d'ya like your eggs in the morning
DEAN: I like mine with a kiss
HELEN: I like mine with a kiss
DEAN: Boiled or fried
HELEN: I'm satisfied
BOTH: As long as I get my kiss
HELEN: How d'ya like your toast in the morning
DEAN: How d'ya like your toast in the morning
HELEN: I like mine with a hug
DEAN: I like mine with a hug
HELEN: Dark or light
DEAN: The world's all right
BOTH: As long as I get my hug
DEAN: I've got to have my love in the morning
HELEN: Or the rest of my day is positively mayhem
DEAN: I'm a regular monster
HELEN: How d'ya like your eggs in the morning
DEAN: I like mine with a kiss
HELEN: Up or down
DEAN: I'll never frown
BOTH: Eggs can be almost bliss, just as long as I get my kiss
The song "How D'Ya Like Your Eggs in the Morning" by Helen O'Connell and Dean Martin is a playful duet about a couple who enjoy breakfast in bed together. The song begins with the question of how they like their eggs and toast, to which Dean responds that he likes his with a kiss and a hug from Helen. The lyrics may seem silly and trivial, but they capture the lightheartedness and joy of being in love.
As the song progresses, Dean sings about how important it is for him to have Helen's love in the morning, or else he becomes a “regular monster.” The song ends with the couple agreeing that eggs can be “almost bliss,” as long as they get their morning kiss and hug.
The song's playful lyrics and cute, romantic theme made it a hit when it was released in 1951. Although it may seem dated now, it remains a classic duet about love and breakfast in bed.
Line by Line Meaning
How d'ya like your eggs in the morning
Helen is asking her partner about his egg preferences.
I like mine with a kiss
Dean likes his eggs with a kiss from Helen.
Boiled or fried
Helen presents two options for cooking the eggs.
I'm satisfied, as long as I get my kiss
Dean is not picky about the way his eggs are cooked, as long as he gets a kiss.
How d'ya like your toast in the morning
Helen asks about her partner's toast preferences.
I like mine with a hug
Dean likes his toast with a hug from Helen.
Dark or light
Helen offers two options for the toast's darkness level.
The world's all right, as long as I get my hug
Dean is not particular about the toast's darkness, as long as he gets a hug.
I've got to have my love in the morning
Dean needs affection from Helen in the morning to start his day well.
Or the rest of my day is positively mayhem
If he doesn't get affection in the morning, Dean's day is chaos.
I'm a regular monster
Dean is emphasizing how important affection is for him in the morning.
Up or down
Helen offers two options for egg presentation.
Eggs can be almost bliss
Both Helen and Dean enjoy having their eggs in the morning.
Just as long as I get my kiss
Ultimately, what matters most to Dean is getting a kiss from Helen in the morning.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: NICHOLAS BRODSZKY, SAMMY CAHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind